First Wave Feminism

First-wave feminism refers to the period during the 19th and early twentieth century where feminist activity began to occur on a global scale, particularly in Western Europe, Canada, and the United States. The reforms demanded by the women, who were primarily white, middle-class women focused mainly on social reform and maternal feminism. Within this movement, first-wave feminists believed that because women are so caring, they should be outside the home caring for others and applying the principle of morality to the public sphere.

In order for women to have more influence on society, they actively sought to obtain their right to vote, which became the main focus for many women’s groups.

Some of the issues centered around early liberal feminism were: marriage (women lost all legal identity when married), divorce (had to have money and it was very public, women would also run the risk of losing their children in the divorce process), sexuality (there was a sexual double standard, men could get away with sex before marriage), and political (women were very anxious to have the right to vote).

In this period, two main form of feminist movements emerged into the public sphere: the temperance movement, which worked towards banning alcohol, and the suffrage movement, which worked towards obtaining the political rights of women.

Both groups comprised of different groups of women with different values and beliefs, upbringings, and educational backgrounds, however both groups sought to give women more of a voice in the public sphere.